GLOBAL PARADOX

THE BIGGER THE WORLD ECONOMY, THE MORE POWERFUL ITS SMALLEST PLAYERS

by John Naisbitt ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 26, 1994

Naisbitt (Megatrends 2000, etc.) here focuses on an apparent incongruity, if not contradiction, in the Global Village's premillennial, post-cold war order. He argues, in brief, that the bigger the world economy becomes, the more powerful will be its smallest players (who, of course, are entrepreneurs or the corporate equivalents thereof). Before examining (in no great depth) the implications of his basic thesis, the author assesses the factors he believes have combined to produce a so-called global paradox. He cites, for instance, the USSR's collapse (which has helped create dozens of new nation-states), ongoing advances in the state of the telecommunications and computer arts, the decentralized management of multinational enterprises, improvements in transportation technology, and the flowering of democratic capitalism in hitherto socialist societies. In Naisbitt's view, individual countries are moving toward greater political independence while seeking to establish economic alliance. Among other consequences, he argues, this trend puts paid to any hope of genuine union (monetary or otherwise) in Western Europe and suggests that the US is on track with the less restrictive trade-based confederation NAFTA would represent. In the meantime, says Naisbitt, the working world is achieving consensus on business conduct, environmental, human rights, and allied issues. Turning to more practical matters, he closes with an upbeat appraisal of commercial opportunities in mainland China, Latin America, and other emergent markets. Another slick status report on putatively earth-shaking shifts in the increasingly interdependent but fragmenting global economy from a past master of the futurist game.

Pub Date: Jan. 26, 1994

ISBN: 0-688-12791-6

Page Count: 320

Publisher: Morrow/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 1993

Categories:

GENERAL NONFICTION